Chapter 282: Dramatic priest (3)
"I am a good man, Edgar. I have come here with the fruits grown from my hard work to pass around to others. You cannot keep seeing me as the man who scammed others. That is behind me," Peter said, hoping Edgar saw the change too.
Peter was certain that if he had the chance to go back in time, his younger self wouldn’t recognise who he was now.
Peter was a changed man. He was better, and it was something to take notice of instead of his past always coming up.
"So, you must thank me for making your life better. That makes me a saint," said Edgar.
Peter stared at Edgar in disbelief. Surely, Edgar could not for a second honestly think that he was a saint.
Edgar was one of the reasons that churches existed.
"You are not a saint, Edgar. I will not give any credit for the good I have done with my life to you," Peter said.
"Had I not threatened to kill you, you would not have turned to the church and become this better person. No need to thank me, Peter. Coming to ruin your day is already enough for me," Edgar said as he walked by Peter.
Peter flinched when Edgar neared him again. His hands went up, ready for a fight he knew he couldn’t win, but Peter didn’t want to be stabbed again. The pain was unbearable.
"I am not here to fight you, Peter. I only want to talk. Where can we speak so that your peers and the townspeople do not eavesdrop?" Edgar asked.
"You can go home and leave me alone. Forgive me," Peter quickly spoke as Edgar turned around. "I am not a priest of this church. I only come from time to time if they need help. I am more of a free spirit."
"So, we must go to your home? I don’t like the change, Peter. We shall speak here since I also need to pray," Edgar said, looking at the statues around the church.
"P-Pray?" Peter stuttered, concerned.
"Am I not welcome to pray?" Edgar asked. "Do you judge and stop some people from praying? That wouldn’t be very holy of you."
"No, you are allowed to pray," Peter said, having no power to stop Edgar. "It only concerns me what you would pray for. I am well," Peter told the other priests.
In truth, Peter wanted to ask that they send for the town guards to protect him.
It was true that Edgar never tried to harm him, but Edgar simply showing up was enough to fill Peter’s mind with so much fright that he might faint.
Peter turned around to follow Edgar. He thought with age, Edgar would forget about him, but he was wrong, and now his safe place was a place he wanted to avoid forever.
"You’ve found yourself a nice, quaint little life, Peter."
"I wish for it to remain that way. If you are here about me marrying your daughter to the prince, then that is not my fault. Why is it becoming common for people in your family to marry so late at night and without guests?" Peter asked.
Peter couldn’t understand the rich.
Edgar was said to have a mountain of wealth, but not only did he have a wedding that cost nothing and his bride had to wear a ring made of wire, but his daughter married the kingdom’s crown prince in the middle of the night. She was fortunate to get a ring then, unlike her mother.
"It might be the secret to a long-lasting marriage," Edgar replied, ignoring Peter’s attempt to insult his wedding. "How many other couples you’ve wed are still together after they have a lavish wedding? I will do you a favour and exclude the groom who stabbed you."
"What have you come for, Edgar? You’ve already ruined my day, so there is no more you have to do. Surely, you didn’t come to see if I was alive and well," said Peter.
"I did come to ruin your day and to see if you are alive and well. I see that you are alive," Edgar said, inspecting Peter’s appearance. "You are certainly not well."
"We are not all wealthy like you, Edgar. After I gathered what little I had and moved away from you, I had to start over. I don’t have the pleasure of buying new clothes as you do. Tell me honestly, what have you come for?" Peter asked, suspecting it was more than talking.
"Though you do not come here often, you must still hear of important matters when others pray. The kingdom once again faces another person going around killing men and women. Tell me, what have you overheard that made you feel wary?" Edgar inquired.
"Edgar, you know that I am not-"
"You went on and on about how Simon gave you a bad feeling. There are lives to be saved here, Peter. Now is not the time for you to act like a fool. Have you heard anything or come across anyone who gave you a bad feeling?" Edgar asked once more.
Peter didn’t want to speak. The prayers were meant to be kept private.
"So far, the court believes that the killer is following in Simon’s footsteps. That means there is a chance that they might come after the last victim Simon failed to kill. You," Edgar said, loving the fear in Peter’s eyes.
Inflicting fear in others had always given Edgar the answers he sought.
Peter tried to think of anyone who gave him a bad feeling.
"There was a fisherman who came by. I thought something was wrong with him, and I was right. Thirty years of marriage to a good woman, he decides to leave her for-"
"Not that kind of a bad feeling. How you have managed to survive so long is something I have yet to understand. You shall keep your quiet life as long as you listen to what is said here and write to me if anyone strange comes by. Do we understand each other, Peter?" Edgar asked.
Peter didn’t want to agree to the deal. Death sounded better than helping Edgar.
What Edgar asked of Peter would save many lives, but Peter didn’t want any dealings with Edgar. It was bad enough that Edgar came all this way to see him.
"Are you not a man of the church who wishes to help the townspeople?" Edgar asked in a taunting tone.
Peter once more felt tempted to go back to his old life so he could hit Edgar once.